Saskatchewan's hockey community is mourning the passing of Graham Tuer, who died Tuesday at age 87.
Tuer’s involvement in hockey in the province spanned five decades. He worked in multiple capacities, as a general manager, scout, volunteer and administrator at every level of minor and junior hockey.
“Graham was truly one of the best people to ever meet,” Pats president Todd Lumbard said in a news release Tuesday.
“He loved hockey, he loved the Pats and he treated everyone with a great deal of love and respect. He will be missed by so many people.”
Tuer was general manager of the Pats when the team won the Air Canada Cup in 1988. He went on to be the assistant GM and scout for the Pats before joining his son, Al, with the Moose Jaw Warriors as a special assistant to the GM for two years. Tuer then spent 20 years with the Kelowna Rockets scouting staff, as well as the NHL’s Central Scouting Service.
“Graham never had a bad word to say about anyone,” said Pats head coach and GM John Paddock.
“He lived his life like we all wish we would have lived our own.”
In August, Tuer was inducted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a builder. He is also a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame, was named the Pats’ key builder in 2010 and received the WHL Distinguished Service Award in 2010.
“The accolades are a reflection of the man Graham was,” said Pats chief operations officer Stacey Cattell.
“We as an organization could not be more proud to call him a Pat forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tuer family and their friends.”
Tuer was predeceased by his wife, Verna, and is survived by his four children Donna, Kathy, Al and Greg, as well as eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
The Pats plan to hold a ceremony during the 2017-18 season to honour the memory of Tuer.
